Jdl Stages Demonstrations

January 23, 1975

NEW YORK (Jan. 22)

About 10 members of the Jewish Defense League, including Rabbi Meir Kahane, staged a demonstration outside Temple Emanuel this afternoon. Kahane told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that they were there “to protest the silence of the American Jewish Establishment while the American government is choking the Israeli government.” He said the group would try to enter the Reform temple and failing that, would remain outside for 24 hours. A number of police were on the scene but no incidents were reported.

Earlier about a half dozen JDL members demonstrated outside the Israeli Consulate General here to protest alleged U.S. pressure on Israel and to demand that the Israel government not give up “one inch” of Arab territory. The protestors sought signatures from passers-by on petitions which they said were to be presented to President Ford and to the Israeli government.

They said they would gather one million signatures for Ford demanding an end to U.S. “pressure” on Israel and a similar number on petitions warning the Jerusalem government not to surrender to pressure. Kahane was not present at the Consulate demonstration.

Kahane told the JTA that today’s demonstrations were the beginning of a series of similar acts by the JDL at Jewish organizations and houses of worship in New York. He said that the JDL would not try to occupy synagogue premises but would take over offices of Jewish organizations. He mentioned the American Jewish Committee.

Henry Fruhauf, Administrator of Temple Emanuel, told the JTA that the Temple had received a telephone call from the Israeli Consulate saying the JDL group was coming to protest the alleged silence of the Reform movement on Soviet Jewry.